Benzine Posted June 7, 2014 Report Share Posted June 7, 2014 Lately, I've been kicking around a new idea, for teaching the students, how to use glaze. Since I started teaching, I have also done some quick demos, regarding underglaze and glaze techniques. However, it seems to be too condensed for the students, and it's hard for them to take in a lot of it. So, instead of me showing them all the techniques, or requiring them to do all of them on projects, I thought of having each student make a slab, dividing it up into sections, and try a couple different techniques there. One section could be undergalze with sgraffito, on with the use of wax or latex resist, sponging, layering, etc. I do something similar, with my Painting class, when we practice with watercolor. The slabs wouldn't have to be very big, maybe five by six or so. Has anyone tried something like this with students, or otherwise? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Campbell Posted June 7, 2014 Report Share Posted June 7, 2014 I took a workshop with Rimas VisGirda and that is what we did. Made identical tiles and used various processes to execute the same simple design. I still have them ... It is a great way to learn several techniques in a short period of time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benzine Posted June 7, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 7, 2014 Chris, I was thinking of just one, divided tile, in order to save time and kiln space. I'm glad, that you found it beneficial. That gives me hope for it being successful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babs Posted June 7, 2014 Report Share Posted June 7, 2014 Yes, Benzine I have done this whereby I allowed the students to form a slab, not huge, and they sectioned it off by engraving random lines and filled the areas created with different techniques. Some ended up quite something in their own right, a bit like in pencil drawing when various patterns are created by lines. Holes were placed near an edge and some were hung around the room till students took them home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benzine Posted June 7, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 7, 2014 Excellent, thanks for the input Babs. I was going to have the students keep them in class, for reference, throughout the rest of the class. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chilly Posted June 7, 2014 Report Share Posted June 7, 2014 I have a number of technique sample tiles in my studio, as well as an undergkaze test tile that sits by "my" chair to take my mug or glass. It's quite a bit bigger than a coaster, so is stable on the carpet. I love it. Having made the technique test tile, I then used them to test glazes, so they became a reference tool in one piece. Go to it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Campbell Posted June 8, 2014 Report Share Posted June 8, 2014 I love the idea of free form sectioning of one slab ... Frees the maker from thinking they always have to do the same thing on the whole piece. Now I am thinking of ways I might incorporate that idea into my workshops ... Heck, into my own work. Thanks Babs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stellaria Posted June 8, 2014 Report Share Posted June 8, 2014 I think both ideas have their own merits. For a classroom instructional exercise to be sure that every student tries and can identify each technique taught, and evenly sectioned slab with each section designated for a specific technique on EVERYBODY's slabs would allow for easy class-wide comparison. But for just playing around with techniques for your own practice or testing, the free-form sectioning sounds like a lot of fun that could lead to something potentially very interesting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babs Posted June 9, 2014 Report Share Posted June 9, 2014 Stellaria, yes, a place for both. I favoured the first as it engaged the students in selecting a size/shape of area to 'fit' the decoration technique, part of the creative thinking., the results were so varied at the end that there was great discussion as to why etc. Ownership took over! the slabs were, as part of the process, sketched and noted and evaluated by the student as part of the assessment. It was fun! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benzine Posted June 9, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 9, 2014 My idea, with the divided slab, was to do like I do with my "Practice Watercolor Techniques" in my Painting class. I have the students divide up the paper, and before we even start, they label each section, as to what it will be. That way, not only will the have a record, after the fact, but it's easier to reference, which area they are supposed to be working in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babs Posted June 10, 2014 Report Share Posted June 10, 2014 Makes sense as students are familiar with this process. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrgpots Posted June 11, 2014 Report Share Posted June 11, 2014 Perhaps a class mosaic of all the techniques. The student tiles demonstrating the techniques the best could be part of the mosaic. Jed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pres Posted June 11, 2014 Report Share Posted June 11, 2014 I ran several tile projects that were aimed at learning techniques. One fun way of doing these was to find a large black and white line poster/drawing. Divide this into even sized square tiles, and cut into pieces. I had students sitting at tables usually of 4 to a table. Then I would give them each table four pieces adjacent to each other. If the assignment involved glaze, then the techniques required would be listed on the rubric. I often did this using wet techniques as in incising, added on clay, piercing, and stamping. Flat decorating techniques would include brushing of slips, sgraffito, splatter, mishima, and finger/tool wiping. When finished these could be critiqued to together and mounted, or as i did go home with the students after the final project was graded and photographed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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